Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday assured that none of the eligible candidates would lose their jobs following the Supreme Court verdict that scrapped the appointments of nearly 26,000 teaching and non-teaching staff in government-run and aided schools.
Addressing a gathering of affected teachers at Netaji Indoor Stadium, Banerjee said the state government would provide alternative arrangements for eligible candidates within a specified timeframe.
“We will seek clarification from the court — what will those who are currently working do? Who will run the schools? No one, neither you nor I, has the right to let someone die of hunger,” said the Chief Minister.
Banerjee said if the jobs are not retained, it is the government's responsibility to provide employment to those who are eligible.
"It is also the government's duty to ensure that these qualified teachers do not lose their jobs. We will take all necessary alternative steps — and make arrangements so that those who may not retain their current positions do not end up jobless. There will be no break in employment,” she said.
The Chief Minister had announced the Netaji In door Stadium meeting on April 3, shortly after the country's apex court invalidated the recruitment process, labelling it "vitiated."
Banerjee had then affirmed the state's commitment to exploring all legal avenues, including seeking a modification of the judgment, to protect the interests of the affected.
“While we are bound by the ruling of the Supreme Court, we are taking proactive steps to ensure the situation is handled with utmost care and fairness. We will explore all possible legal avenues, including seeking modifications of the judgment and other relief to provide justice to those who have been affected,” the Chief Minister told the gathering at the stadium.
Raising her voice against the SC order, Banerjee said, “Do not think that we have accepted this [decision]. Our heart is also aching because of your (the affected teachers) grief.
It is because of this, they might put me in jail for saying this, but I don't care. We are supposed to stand by their (the affected teachers) side. We cannot deny the responsibility to restore their dignity and respect that they deserve," she said.
Taking a dig at the opposition and alleging a "larger conspiracy" to break the state's education system, the Chief Minister said, “The Supreme Court didn’t cancel NEET (the all India medical entrance examination) and here with a single scratch of a pen they cancelled the entire selection process.
"Who gave them the right to say everyone is a ‘thief’. Is there a larger conspiracy behind it?” she asked.
“We will request a list of eligible and non-eligible candidates from the Supreme Court, as we have not been permitted to determine that ourselves; give us some time, and I assure you that not a single eligible person will lose their job,” the CM said.
The chief minister also clarified that the candidates who are being defined as non-eligible are also under the consideration of the government and assured that she would take care of them once the problem of the eligible ones is settled.
“Some candidates are being termed as non-eligible. I will go through all the documents. If they are really non-eligible, I have nothing to do but if they are not then the government will ensure that they get their job back,” the Chief Minister said.
